Patriarch Kirill of Russia to pay his first foreign visit to Kiev

9. February 2009 - 10:23

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill will pay his first foreign visit to Ukraine.
"I would like to visit the mother of Russian cities - Kiev, our ancient capital and the center of Russian Orthodoxy," Patriarch Kirill told the Rossiya TV channel.

Patriarch Kirill, who earlier was Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, paid his first pastoral visit to Smolensk. The next destination is Kaliningrad. The Patriarch will then visit his native city St. Petersburg and worship at the remains of Alexander Nevsky, whom he considers as his patron.